Prince Charming

Prynce Charming Joel Okuyo who featured with a white cutie named Sonya on East Africa TV’s Friday Night Live (18th April 2008) hosted by Ugandan presenter Ssebbo in Dar-es-Salaam, is a real movie buff. With (much more than) three movies on his portfolio (Two feature length films: ‘Battle of the Souls’about former devil worshipper Roger Mugisha directed by the tall Matt Bish who couldn’t believe I was around 60 kilos in weight; plus ‘From the Ashes of Hatred’, a Nollywood and UgaWood collaboration about a family which did not want their daughter to marry a Muganda; and a TV Documentary ‘Trouble in Paradise’ - about the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest Massacre. Lyhnnq-x acted as a rebel leader; by the time he went to the studio), his career is definitely taking off to the skies of international film. Having stayed with him during first year, first semester at Uganda Christian University’s affiliate hostel Bishop Kamanyire (since September 2003), I know how entertaining he naturally is. He was among my first real friends at UCU besides my Kenyan (Kikuyu-Luo) roommate Sidney Okumu (I left Kamanyire Hostel for St Michael Royale Hostel in Bugujju Village after May 2004). As tribemates, it was really easy to connect because of our ancestry but the love for music, almost similar taste for women and fantastic exploration of ideas strengthened our friendship. Some people say he talks too much but that is what makes people more interesting especially when they do it to thrill. Maybe one day he will be crowned the “King of Ugandan Cinema”.

AFTERMATH:
JOEL has won numerous international accolades in film including: Four time international award winning actor (2008), Best Supporting Actor (Balafon Film Festival, Italy 2009), Best Actor in Supporting Role Africa Movie Academy Awards, Nigeria 2010), Best performance by an Actor/actress (Uhuru Film Festival, Ubuntu Village, Colorado, USA), Best Actor (ZIFF) 2011.